Yellow Ostrich - Strange Land - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Wedged between Turkey and Russia, the Republic of Georgia is older than both countries. Musically, it's more like an island, with a deep-rooted polyphonic vocal tradition (music in several independent voices) completely distinct from all cultures around it. Proudly carrying the folk music of Georgia into the 21st century is the vocal unit, Trio Kavkasia, who have immersed themselves into this original vocal styling which was in full bloom around the Ninth Century. Consisting of three Americas, tenors Alan Gasser and Carl Linich, and Stuart Gelzer singing bass; they have collectively dedicated more than 40 years to this unique East-European music. And they've done it with respect and an archeological attention to detail. Over 25 tracks of liturgical tunes and secular ballads, not to mention happy drinking songs sung at taverns and weddings, O Morning Breeze is a remarkable achievement and musical experience. While some aspects, such as Georgian liturgical music, have been documented since the Middle Ages, other folk elements are entirely passed on orally, with wax cylinders from the turn of the century as it's earliest snapshot documentation. Album Tracks 1. Benia's Mravalzhamier 2. Chkimi Toronji 3. Movedit Da Vsat 4. Gogo Shavtvala 5. Shavi Shashvi 6. Mirangula 7. Aghdgomasa Shensa 8. Shirakis Velze 9. Megruli Naduri 10. Riho 11. Piruzi 12. Kriste Aghsdga 13. Utsinares Mas Vadidebt 14. Meh Rustveli 15. Tsangala Da Gogona 16. Ivarsa Shensa 17. Lazhghvash 18. Kalospiruli 19. Tsmindao Ghmerto 20. Guruli Vakhtanguri 21. Harira 22. Gandagana 23. Orovela 24. Zar 25. Didi Khnidan Gagitsani

Barsuk Records is pleased to announce that Brooklyn, NY trio Yellow Ostrich has joined the Barsuk family. Their Barsuk debut, the Mistress, will be released nationally on August 16th, 2011. The focal point of Yellow Ostrich's magnificent debut the Mistress is Wisconsin native Alex Schaaf's voice. On the Mistress it gets looped and layered, stretched and manipulated; it's stacked up several high and, most often, it's used as an instrument, fleshing out the empty spaces in his bare, searching songs. The album was originally recorded (largely by Schaaf himself with occasional help from a few friends) and given very limited online for free via his Bandcamp site before he hooked up with now-fulltime band mates Jon Natchez (bass, horns, vocals) and Michael Tapper (drums, vocals) in New York. Album Tracks 1. I Think U Are Great 2. Whale 3. Hate Me Soon 4. Hold on 5. Libraries 6. Hahahaohhoho 7. I'll Run 8. Campaign 9. Mary 10. Slow Paddle 11. Bread 12. Fog 13. Mary [Alternate] [Alternate Take]

2014 from the Brooklyn-based Indie Rock band. Borrowing it's title from Sagans 1980 PBS series, COSMOS expands Yellow Ostrich's intensely guitar driven Alt-Rock with dreamy electronic arrangements to mirror the mood of guitarist Alex Schaaf and drummer Michael Tappers retreats away from the everyday world. While the album embodies a sense of both wonder and isolation, Yellow Ostrich's refined melodies and dense yet delicate sonic textures make COSMOS as powerfully intimate as it is dynamic. The follow-up to Yellow Ostrich's 2012 EP GHOST, Cosmos captures that uneasy tension by merging raw guitar riffs, rich atmospherics, brain-bending electro effects, sweetly ethereal harmonies, and earnest but unsettling lyrics. Album Tracks 1. Terrors 2. Neon Fists 3. Shades 4. My Moons 5. You Are the Stars 6. In the Dark 7. Any Wonder 8. How Do You Do It 9. Things Are Fallin' 10. Don't Be Afraid